The Tow

[Ross J]

I towed a bloke with his lady friends home on Sunday.<br />My mate and I were 13 km away when the Coast Guard requested assistance. We raced over and took a large and expensive boat under tow to a local marina. Getting there was easy and the boat was soon tied up safe and sound with the occupants secure we wandered down the jetty to see what had happened. <br />They'd blown the electrics and couldn't get anything to work. Nothing more for us to do so we say our goodbuys.<br />Lady No 1 says, "I suppose we'll have to pay you".<br />I responded with, "Something for fuel would be suffucuent".<br />She goes aboard and comes out passing me a $10:00 note saying, "That'll be enough".<br />I'm think about the $25:00 of fuel I used up getting there and during the tow but away we go. My mate looks at me and told me off for being a mug. After all I say, I couldn't exactly tow the bloody thing out and sink it could I.<br />Never ever been ripped off by a poor man on a boat in my life!<br />Ross

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: The Tow

no good deed goes unpunished they say<br /><br />eh, you did the right thing, I used to tow people in for free, told em to tow someone else in trouble if they can<br /><br />altruistic? well, maybe, but I would also position my wrecker at a notoriously slippery ramp and crab while dragging stuck rigs out, donations cheerfully accepted<br /><br />

 

[ISkiH2O]

Re: The Tow

Never charged anyone, ever. Also never saw anyone in a high dollar boat towing anyone.<br /> The few times I was towed I payed for much more that the fuel. Had one guy that asked for cash up front. He wanted $100 for a mile (or less) tow, down stream. Yes he was in a newer boat and looked like he had plent of $$$.

 

[DJ]

Re: The Tow

I've never accepted anything. I would have told her to go straight to hell.

 

[Capt. T]

Re: The Tow

I'm with CastawayRay on this one. I've towed plenty of boats and always tell'em to help out the next one in trouble.<br /><br />What goes around, comes around...

 

[tylerin]

Re: The Tow

Never charged anyone myself nor would I. I was towed once and I offered the guy some money and he wouldn't have anything to do with it. He was camping not far from us and that evening I brought him a 12 pack. I ended up drinking about 3 of them and found a new friend. That's what its all about to me

 

[aspeck]

Re: The Tow

When I worked at the marina, we charged out the wazoo for a tow. On my own time, it was free - just do it for someone else. Rich snobs could call the marina for a tow, but for the average joe - free pass! (And you can tell the snobs, not by the boat, but the attitude.)

 

[neumanns]

Re: The Tow

First off you were in the right, you didn't ask she offered. After the tacky offer for 10 bucks I would have proabably handed it back and made a comment like, Sorry miss it but it looks like you apperantly need this worse than I. <br /><br />All that and you think they would be greatful apperantly no leason learned. They will be just as expectant next time something happens.<br /><br />In the end though your reward was a good deed done in spite of the snub.

 

[Scoop]

Re: The Tow

Ross, you did the right thing. There are a lot of well off people out there. I shoveled sidewalk for one. Being the naive kid I was I took the offer them made and did an awesome job although the job was extermely hard work, I took pride in it. During the winter, I learned they had paid double that amount to the last kid and had him do half the work. I finished the year and had no hard feelings because I made a deal. The next year when they jumped to get me to do their walk I turned the offer down.<br />By the way, the guy was a retired lawyer with expensive cars a big house and a home in Florida where he went for the winter.<br /><br />On the other hand, there was another family in the neighborhood that was 10 times more well off than the lawyer. MOney did not matter to them. they would let us neighborhood kinds play on their tennis court and even turn on the lights at night so we could play.<br /><br />Senator Russ Feigold grew up down the block from me. I did some yard work for his Dad after he moved out. It was an interesting neighborhood.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: The Tow

Aspeck your right on about attitude, about 3 years ago I towed a guy about 1/4 mile, he had a antique Gravette(not sure about spelling) and ran out of gas, anyway he was stuck in a narrow busy Channel, several boats just went on by him, I didn't I towed him to the closest marina, He offered to pay for fuel, I declined, he insisted and made the fuel dock attendent fill my Tank which cost 80 bucks, turned out he was one of the bigger millionares in the area, he then later invited my family to his summer home for a BBQ, we have since stayed in touch. One thing Ken said was he liked our attitude,about boating and helping, and that he filled my tank because I helped him because he needed it, I did not do it seeking compensation, Heck I didn't know he was a millionare.

 

[BrianFD]

Re: The Tow

Similar to yours, Northern Eclipse...<br />Towed in one out-of-gas. Got him tied-up at the boat ramp and he reaches for his wallet. I said (like some others), "No, that's OK. Just return the favor to someone else who needs it." He still tried to hand me $100, but I wouldn't take it.<br />Later on that summer I 'caught' him towing in a little skiff. As I passed slowly by, we both grinned and waved, and gave each other a knowing nod.<br />It's great to see what comes around sometimes goes around.

 

[neumanns]

Re: The Tow

I think many of you are missing the point here.<br /><br />Ross did not do it for the money he did it out of the goodness of his heart. He did not expect compensation but when it was offered he replied "something for gas would be nice". He didnt set a price nor did he ask for a profit.<br /><br />He was handed $10 dollers wich was more than what he expexted when he threw them a line. No problem up untill what happens next. <br /><br />No Gratitude nor a sincere thank you but rather "That will be enoufgh"<br /><br />All of you who have done this in the past apperantly got some form or gratitude or thanks in one form or another, not ross he got looked at down the womans nose and was told to run alonng you nusance. That is pathetic he did these people a favor and should have at least had the satisfaction of knowing they appriciated it. <br /><br />It's not about the money but rather her attitude!

 

[chuckybaby]

Re: The Tow

A couple of years ago we were launching on a cool cloudy day on the Ottawa river. There was a PWC buzzing around, 1 guy and 2 very attractive young ladies taking turns. As luck would have it, the PWC quit with the 2 girls a couple of hunderd yards from the launch. The guy is pacing the dock as we prep the boat, park, hit the can etc. By now, the PWC is 3/4 of a mile downstream and the girls are waving frantically. The guys asks for help, we all jump in the boat. We get to the PWC, the girls jump in my boat as the guy tries to get the PWC started. I won't go so we toss him a rope and we tow the **** thing back to the dock. I felt bad because we could see that the girls were cold (come in tokyo) and we didn't have anything to offer for them to cover up. <br /><br />Anyway we dropped tham at the dock and headed out. As we were pulling away, the guys comes running down the dock shouting and waving. We go back to the dock wondering what's up. He has run to his car, grabbed his wallet and wants to give me $20 for the tow. My buddy and I looked at each other and grinned as I spun the boat around and hit the throttle. Some rewards are intrinsic.

 

[BrianFD]

Re: The Tow

neumanns,<br />I don't believe the point was lost, IMHO.<br />CastawayRay said it best that "no good deed goes unpunished." Unfortunately, that appears to be true in this instance.<br />As good, conscientious boaters, we know the right thing to do (tow them to safety with no expectations of compensation). Also, we know that there's bound to be some knuckleheads out there who don't or won't show their appreciation... maybe because of ignorance or maybe because they're embarassed (who knows). I know the couple of times I've been towed, the good samaritan wouldn't accept any of my $$ for their help. Likewise, if/when I'm called upon to assist someone in distress, I wouldn't accept anything either, other than their "thanks", if it was offered.<br />Not that there's anything improper by Ross J asking for a little gas money.... don't get me wrong there either, please.<br />I (like everyone) know what it's like to be unappreciated and even scorned for doing something nice. Still, we shouldn't let it bother us to the point of NOT assisting someone who needs it.<br />Just my additional $0.02...<br />Brian

 

[Maximerc]

Re: The Tow

Once I went boating the silly power trim was out of fluid could only get the engin about half way in the water. Well it was a cool day and we really only wanted to putter around the lake once any way , I am sure we were diving the people on shore crazy with the engine exhausing nearly at water level...Any way on the way back we came across a man with his family .. all piled into a older 15 ft boat with a historic old OB he's tugging onthe engine .. not having a good day .... I stopped told him that I was not haveing a real good boat day myself but I would be glad to get him back to the dock. Once there he pulled out his wallet and asked what he owed me ... I told him there was nothing in his wallet I wanted ..a hand shake would do.. I have done the same thing a couple of times , I dont know why its so gratifying to me, but it is. Maybe its the fact that I ran into that same guy at a gas station a year later and he walked over and shook my hand......

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: The Tow

Where Ross messed up, he should have ignored hearing the woman and only talked to the man. Women and men think differently no doubt.<br /><br />Once on Lake Erie, my son his friend, and myself went out on the lake. They were 10 years old at the time. <br /><br />We got to the favorite fishing hole, I pulled the throttle back and it died. It wouldn't idle at all or stay running. Weather was nice so no worries there. On the other hand I was scared because I was worried about getting back into the dock, plus having a child with me that wasn't mine. We fished for about 2 hours, caught our limit. Went to start the boat and no luck. No phone, no radio, and no running boat. I was now getting worried. Did my best not to let the boys know this of course. I then bypassed the safty on the shifter, pushed the throttle up about half way and tried starting it in gear. It started and cruised all the way back to the river. <br /><br />Now was the bad part. Entered the rivers mouth where the no wake zone is. Pulled the throttle back and it quits. Three miles of no wake zone before I can get home. <br /><br />Pulled the top off the carb while bounincg around due to the heavy traffic of boats. Sat there for an hour tinkering and trying to get it to run at idle. No Luck Meanwhile at least several dozen of boaters have passed by without any asking if I needed help. Then a man in his new big expensive boat asked if I needed help. Told him I just needed towed to the cantilever railroad bridge and I would be fine. Said he was going that way and towed me through the no wake zone. <br /><br />I told him I felt bad because I didn't have any cash but I would give him a mess of perch. He replied that was far better than money anyway.<br /><br />Got to the bridge, put the boat in gear with half throttle it started right up and I took off. Got to the dock and was thinking that I can row the rest of the way to the dock. About 1/4 mile. Pulled the throttle back and the boat kept running and ideled the rest of the way to the dock. No more problems after that.

 

[KM2]

Re: The Tow

I always believed that you help fellow boaters out whenever you can because your day will come when you will need a strangers help. To date I have given 2 tows into the landing and recieved one. Never wanted money or expected any. I do think if somebody tows you a long distance like some of the previous posts that you should give the tower a generous amout for gas. Not only did you burn his gas to get in you took away from his good time on the water.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: The Tow

RJ. i know you're enjoyin this it is a good reminder to us all. we're still in the top 1% of humane persons no matter what the civilized world may think. lol<br /><br />the last time i ran into this, was 2 wks ago, when enroute to the remote camping site in a nat forest.<br /><br />my bud's 4wd had a sidewall blowout(good tires,bad road) and a bearhunter stopped to help us. he had a selfcontained compressor(12v?) to get the ancient "spare" tire in shape to use. the issue didn't go unnoticed by this oldtimer- he helped, but strongly offered the 'tire/sidewall rating basics course' to us. a very experienced person he was, we had no doubt. <br /><br />and over those next few days we saw bear & hogs cross our path, with those hunters & vehicles, but never a broken down situation.

 

[Ross J]

Re: The Tow

You are all right!<br />I know that I've done a tow for nothing and enjoyed the warm feeling it gives to do good by your fellow man. <br />However this one time I took offence at the attitude this woman showed me and my friend when we'd gone away out to tow them. I didn't need the petrol money but wanted them to acknowledge the help they'd recieved.<br />No-one has ever gone without help if I can help them. I've even stopped fishing to assist where I can. I've needed a tow once myself and hand in pocket I provided them with fuel money.<br />I happed to think the boating fraternity is much like the old days on bikes when everybody helped each other out.<br />I'm glad I belong to that class........<br />Ross

 

[jtexas]

Re: The Tow

So, what is the protocol? sounds like the consensus is, always offer to pay, never accept. That's my instinct. Been towed twice, both times only about 200 yards to the dock, and the trolling motor woulda got us there only when the nice people offered couldn't turn 'em down. Didn't offer money because of the short distance.<br /><br />My opinion, it ought to be a crime to pass by a disabled boat without offering assistance. <br /><br />thnaks,<br />jtw